US president (4th), political theorist.
He was influential in framing the Constitution, drafted the Bill of Rights, and served as the 4th U.S. president.

A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both.

To the press alone, checquered as it is with abuses, the world is indebted for all the triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression.

If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.

It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood . . .

The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.

Published Sources for
the above Quotations:

F:

In "An Almanac of Liberty," by William O. Douglas, 1954.

R:

In "An Almanac of Liberty," by William O. Douglas, 1954.

A:

"Federalist Papers," no. 47, Jan 1788.

N:

In "Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations," by Suzy Platt, 1993.